Google Is Introducing Rich Cards for Mobile Marketing Growth

Rich cards are a new Search result format building on the success of rich snippets. Just like rich snippets, rich cards use schema.org structured markup to display content in an even more engaging and visual format, with a focus on providing a better mobile user experience.

Evolution of search results for queries like [peanut butter cookies recipe]: with rich cards, results are presented in carousels that are easy to browse by scrolling left and right. Carousels can contain cards all from the same site or from multiple sites.’

For site owners, this is a new opportunity to stand out in Search results and attract more targeted users to your page. For example, if you have a recipe site, you can build a richer preview of your content with a prominent image for each dish. This visual format helps users find what they want right away, so you’re getting users who specifically want that especially delicious cookie recipe you have.

Google is starting to show rich cards for two content categories: recipes and movies. They will appear initially on mobile search results in English for google.com. Google is actively experimenting with more opportunities to provide more publishers with a rich preview of their content.

Google built a comprehensive set of tools and completely updated our developer documentation to take site owners and developers from initial exploration through implementation to performance monitoring.

Explore rich card types and identify where your content fits

Browse the new gallery with screenshots and code samples of each markup type.

Test and tweak your markup

Google strongly recommends using JSON-LD in your implementation.

Find out which fields are essential to mark up in order for a rich card to appear. Google also listed additional fields that can enhance your rich cards.

In the Rich Cards report, you’ll see which cards can be enhanced by marking up additional fields.

Monitor performance

A new “Rich results” filter in Search Analytics (currently in a closed beta) will help you track how your rich cards and rich snippets are doing in search: you’ll be able to drill down and see clicks and impressions for both.

Q: Can I keep my existing rich snippets markup?

A: Yes, you can! Google will keep you posted as the rich result ecosystem evolves.

Q: What about the Structured Data report in Search Console?

A: The Structured Data report will continue to show only top-level entities for the existing rich snippets (Product, Recipe, Review, Event, SoftwareApplication, Video, News article) and for any new categories (e.g., Movies). Google plans to migrate all errors from the Structured Data report into the Rich Card report.